apocrine

Definition of APOCRINE

: producing a fluid secretion by pinching off one end of the secretory cell while leaving the rest intact <an apocrine gland>; also: produced by an apocrine gland

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Origin of APOCRINE

International Scientific Vocabulary apo- + Greek krinein to separate — more at certain

First Known Use: 1926

Medical Dictionary

apocrine

adjectiveapo·crine \ˈap-ə-krən, -ˌkrīn, -ˌkrēn\

Medical Definition of APOCRINE

: producing a fluid secretion by pinching off one end of the secreting cells which then reform and repeat the process <apocrine glands>; also: produced by an apocrine gland—compare eccrine, holocrine, merocrine